Six Chon Buri police officers have been summoned to answer charges after a karaoke bar operator accused them of trying to place false charges against her of being involved in the sex trade and human trafficking.
Two of them -- Pol Lt Col Narawut Karamahito, investigating inspector, and Pol Lt Jatuphum Limsiriwattanakul -- attached to the Inquiry Division of Provincial Police Region 2, have been transferred to inactive posts pending an investigation into the saga, in which the national police chief came to the alleged victim's aid.
Pol Maj Gen Ampon Buarupporn, commander of Chon Buri provincial police, said the two officers together with four subordinates have been summoned to answer charges at Muang Pattaya station. The charges include false imprisonment, malfeasance causing injury and attempted extortion, said Pol Col Apichai Krobpetch, of Muang Pattaya police.
Pol Col Apichai said he would also forward the case to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further investigation regarding corruption charges.
Investigators are examining footage from a CCTV camera installed at the bar. Pol Maj Gen Ampon said he had ordered his subordinates to locate the other four officers allegedly involved in the incident.
The move came after Paranisa Chainapanichkul, 36, the owner of Nangfa karaoke bar in Bang Lamung district of Chon Buri, filed a complaint with Muang Pattaya police accusing the six of illegally detaining her and her employees, attempting to extort money from her and misconduct causing damage to others.
PattayaPolice240.jpg Once the would-be shakedown fell apart, police beat a hasty retreat down nearby Bang Lamung streets, but face official action and sanctions. (Creative Commons via Wikipedia)
According to Ms Paranisa, on July 14, a man came into her bar and offered 2,000 baht to a waitress, asking her to say she was selling sex to him. However, the waitress refused.
The man then tried the same thing with another waitress, but this time he put the money in her hand.
That was when another group of five men, including Pol Lt Col Narawut and Pol Lt Jatuphum, stormed into the bar.
Pol Lt Jatuphum used his mobile phone to take a photo of the waitress holding the money and forced the waitress to contact Ms Paranisa and ask her to come to the bar.
Ms Paranisa said when she arrived, Pol Lt Col Narawut accused her of being involved in prostitution and human trafficking. He said the police had evidence, referring to the photo of the waitress.
Ms Paranisa said she telephoned a close relative who knew the national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda to seek help.
Soon, Pol Gen Chakthip called her mobile phone and she told him his subordinates were making false accusations against her. The police chief asked her to hand the phone over to the officers but the officers refused to take the call.
She said the officers did not believe she was speaking to the police chief, saying if he was the real police chief he would be able to call their boss, Pol Maj Gen Ampon.
Pol Gen Chakthip then asked Ms Paranisa to turn on the speakerphone so he could talk to the men. She complied, but the group would still not believe the man on the phone was the police chief.
One officer in the group said if that was really the police chief, he would lodge a complaint against him for trying to help a criminal.
Pol Lt Col Narawut then asked his subordinates to handcuff her and her workers and take them into a van. Once inside the van, the group of police allegedly asked for a bribe of 30,000 baht from her in exchange for her and her colleagues' freedom, Ms Paranisa told the investigator.
At that time, Pol Maj Gen Ampon telephoned Ms Paranisa, but the group did not believe it was really Pol Maj Gen Ampon who had called either.